Student Assistant for Developer Role - Consortium on Trust in Media and Technology

University of Florida • Gainesville, FL

5d • Onsite

About The Position

The Consortium on Trust in Media and Technology (CTMT) in the College of Journalism and Communications is seeking a motivated Computer Science student to join our team as a student developer. The project explores how language affects public perception and trust in journalism. This position focuses on maintaining and supporting a language analysis platform that uses natural language processing (NLP) and large language models (LLMs) to evaluate framing, tone, and potential bias in written content. The tool is currently in an active testing phase, including pilot use in newsroom environments. This position focuses on maintaining and supporting the backend of the platform while contributing to ongoing improvements during real-world testing. The ideal candidate will have strong programming skills and an interest in AI and NLP.

Requirements

• High School Diploma
• Proven proficiency in Python, especially with libraries and frameworks relevant to NLP and sentiment analysis (SpaCy, PyTorch, etc.)
• Currently enrolled Computer Science student eligible for on-campus employment through student Other Personnel Services (OPS) with a minimum 2.5 GPA.
• Available to work part-time, up to 20 hours per week, during the Summer term.

Nice To Haves

• Experience working with or strong familiarity with large language models (LLMs) and NLP workflows
• Experience with backend development and APIs (Flask, FastAPI, or similar frameworks)
• Interest in linguistics or computational linguistics a plus
• Ability to diagnose and resolve technical issues efficiently
• Strong communication skills and ability to work both independently and collaboratively
• Detail-oriented with strong organizational and time management skills

Responsibilities

• Maintain and troubleshoot the backend of a language analysis platform, ensuring stable performance during pilot testing in newsroom environments
• Implement updates, fixes, and optimizations to improve system reliability and efficiency
• Support API functionality and assist with integrating frontend and backend components
• Collaborate with project stakeholders to gather feedback and address technical issues
• Provide technical support for AI/NLP components, including Python-based workflows and model integration
• Document technical processes, updates, and system changes for continuity and future development

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Part-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: High school or GED